Frankenstein~Benevolence

"My mother's tender caresses and my father's smile of benevolent pleasure while regarding me, are my first recollections." The word benevolence pops up quite a bit throughout the first half of the novel. Benevolence is used to describe a character's countenance, smile, or personality. Victor also uses benevolent to describe his professor in college. Not only does the word imply that there are many good and kind people in the word, but also that Victor has a rather positive outlook on life. Victor is also able to easily see the best in others. The use of the word also suggests the time frame of the story. Obviously, people tend to avoid the word benevolent in today's world. The use of the word gives the reader a greater sense of the setting.